OJT for surgical techs?

Specialties Operating Room

Published

With the many threads on here regarding scrubbing cases, I was curious as to see what the thoughts are on this board regarding hospitals training their own to be a surgical technologist. I am not talking about RN's or LPN's learning to scrub, I see nothing wrong with that at all. What I mean is those hospitals that train housekeepers, receptionists, central sterilization, or any other employees that happen to work in the area of surgery and when their training is done, the hospital calls them surgical technologists. They usually have some minor requirements and the "training" might be as short as 6 months or as long as a year. Upon completion and meeting their hospitals needs they are given the title ST, but they will not be able to get registered.

What are your thoughts?

In Illinois, currently in my area there is one hospital that is doing just that. training employees from certain areas to scrub. 6 months training. We already have 2 accreditted schools that help fill the demand for surgical technologists but they told me that they haven't had enough appilicants. 50 miles away they only will hire certified surgical technologists.

Do any of you think this is an acceptable practice?

Thank you for your comments. There are so many folks from all over the USA and the world, hearing practices from other areas I find very interesting.

~Lonman

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With the many threads on here regarding scrubbing cases, I was curious as to see what the thoughts are on this board regarding hospitals training their own to be a surgical technologist. I am not talking about RN's or LPN's learning to scrub, I see nothing wrong with that at all. What I mean is those hospitals that train housekeepers, receptionists, central sterilization, or any other employees that happen to work in the area of surgery and when their training is done, the hospital calls them surgical technologists. They usually have some minor requirements and the "training" might be as short as 6 months or as long as a year. Upon completion and meeting their hospitals needs they are given the title ST, but they will not be able to get registered.

What are your thoughts?

In Illinois, currently in my area there is one hospital that is doing just that. training employees from certain areas to scrub. 6 months training. We already have 2 accreditted schools that help fill the demand for surgical technologists but they told me that they haven't had enough appilicants. 50 miles away they only will hire certified surgical technologists.

Do any of you think this is an acceptable practice?

Thank you for your comments. There are so many folks from all over the USA and the world, hearing practices from other areas I find very interesting.

~Lonman

Our hospital has their own certified Surgical Tech program. It's always filled and has a long waiting list. The students 2nd year they actually become an employee of the hospital and are paid to complete the program and work.

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

Not a good idea in my opinion. Why train medically illiterate individuals when you can just train your RNs or LVNs instead. Looks like another way to obtain "cheap" labor without going through the hoops. Typical upper management thinking. No clue!

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Some time ago a similar topic was raised here in my or. Every RN voted to walk off the job, the subject was never raised again. How much more crap must RNs there take before they stand up for themselves. Your giving your jobs away people. Start fighting back before your boss is the person who used to mop the floors.

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Having been an ST for almost 15 years, I don't think that OJT for scrub techs is fair or good for the patients or the hospital ( except maybe their budgets). I spent two years getting my training and have an Associates degree in Surgical Technology. The hospital where I have been employed for almost 11 years did the same thing for many years. Some the STs that have 20 years or more were trained off the street. The hospital now requires ST's to have had proper schooling and requires certification within one year of employment.

With the many threads on here regarding scrubbing cases, I was curious as to see what the thoughts are on this board regarding hospitals training their own to be a surgical technologist. I am not talking about RN's or LPN's learning to scrub, I see nothing wrong with that at all. What I mean is those hospitals that train housekeepers, receptionists, central sterilization, or any other employees that happen to work in the area of surgery and when their training is done, the hospital calls them surgical technologists. They usually have some minor requirements and the "training" might be as short as 6 months or as long as a year. Upon completion and meeting their hospitals needs they are given the title ST, but they will not be able to get registered.

What are your thoughts?

In Illinois, currently in my area there is one hospital that is doing just that. training employees from certain areas to scrub. 6 months training. We already have 2 accreditted schools that help fill the demand for surgical technologists but they told me that they haven't had enough appilicants. 50 miles away they only will hire certified surgical technologists.

Do any of you think this is an acceptable practice?

Thank you for your comments. There are so many folks from all over the USA and the world, hearing practices from other areas I find very interesting.

~Lonman

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Thanks for the input everyone.

~Lonman

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